Kelful / Banana Flower is very nutritious. Different recipes are popular in different regions of India. Cleaning Banana Flower is a lengthy process. But considering its nutritious values, it is worth taking the efforts and make Banana Flower recipes. This recipe is from Goa / Konkan. It’s an easy one and requires only a few ingredients that are generally available in Indian kitchen. It does not use any spices except Green Chillies. Try this out. It’s tasty.

a. Banana Flower has Purple coloured Bracts. When you open a Bract, you will see a bunch of Florets. Take out these florets. Purple Bracts are to be discarded.

b. You need to remove 2 parts from each floret viz. Calyx and Pistil. Once you open a floret, you will see a transparent plastic textured leaf like part towards the bottom of the floret. This is Calyx. Take this out. This is to be discarded.

c. You will see multiple thin strings in the floret. One of them is stiff and the top end is dark. This is Pistil. Take this out. This is to be discarded.

d. Clean all the florets this way.

e. As you keep peeling Purple Bracts, florets will be shorter.

f. Florets in the inner side of the flower are very small and very tender. You will not be able to see Calyx and Pistil in these florets. So don’t discard anything from these florets.

Cleaned Banana Florets

3. Wash cleaned florets and chop them fine. Soak them in water after adding buttermilk / Tamarind pulp to the water. Add enough water to cover all the florets.